Brassiere



April 26, 1938. w, ROSENTHAL 2,115,398

sRAssIERE Filed May 8, 1936 INVENTOR WILUAM ROSENTHAL Hi ATTORNEY Patented Apr .'26, 1938 PATENT OFFICE 2,115,398 BRASSIERE William Bosenthal, New York, N. n, assignor to Maiden Form Brassiere Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 8, 1936, Serial No. 78,599

This invention relates broadly to a new bras: sire construction.

One of the objects of this invention is the creation of a brassiere which is adapted to support the bust in natural position.

Another object of this invention is the creation of a brassiere having the constructional elements thereof so arranged, located, associated and combined that the breasts of the wearer thereof by virtue of the employment of the brassiere are uplifted to a predetermined degree and firmly and comfortably supported in a natural uplifted position.

Another object of this invention is the creation of a breast supporting garment embodying adjustable means for uplifting and supporting the wearer's breasts.

Another object of this invention is the creation of a brassire having within each breast receiving pocket thereofva relatively free and adjustable sling-like element adapted to under-breast contact for the purpose of supporting and uplifting the wearers breasts.

A further object of this invention is the creation of a brassire including novel internal breast supporting and uplifting elements.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a novel brassiere construction wherein the degree of breast uplift and support may be adjustably arranged for by adjustment of the effective length of shoulder straps which shoulder straps are at the point of possible adjustment susceptible of complete disengagement, and being undone from the devices to which they are secured when the garment is worn.

A still further object of this invention is the creation of a brassire providing desired breast uplift and support and which is adapted to ready manufacture in quantity, and is of strong and durable construction although soft, comfortable and easy to wear.

These and many other objects are secured by the brassire construction herein disclosed. Various other objects and advantages of the inven- 4& tion than those hereinabove specifically mentioned will appear more fully hereinafter. It is to be understood, that the specific form or forms shown are merely illustrative and hence the detailed description thereof is not to be taken as limiting the invention itself.

This application is a companion to the. joint application of myself and one, Charles M. Sachs, Serial No. 78,598, filed May 8, 1936.

This invention resides substantially in the parts as well as the combination, construction, ar-

rangement and relative location of parts, all as will appear more fully hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the several views to indicate the same or similar part it will be found that:

Fig. 1 represents a rear elevational view of a 'brassire employing the novel principles of my construction shown as spread out-and with the back straps disengaged from each other and with the shoulder straps disengaged in the rear;

Fig. 2 represents a front elevational view thereof; 4

Fig. 3 represents a rear perspective 'view'of' my novel brassiere construction, shown in wearing position; and

Fig. 4 represents a sectional view, taken along the section line 4-4 in Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

As pointed out in the above identified copending application for United States Letters Patent, the trend in present day women's styles, as is well known, is towards accentuation of the natural breast and body lines so as to emphasize the inherent beauty in the natural curves of the well developed human form, while providing a 'high degree of comfort and freedom of natural movement.

Some women find that their bust line is not sufficiently accentuated and outstanding to accord with present day styles because their breasts although of ample proportions are pendulous.

Other women having the desired configuration of bust line find that they are often in serious danger of losing the same for one reason or another such, for example, as because of lactation, abnormalities, and the like. Women such as these run the risk of finding themselves outmoded, out of step with current fashion and frequently unable to wear and make use of currentstyles, particularly of outer wearing apparel.

Furthermore, it is also readily apparent that solely as a matter of health and well being, and quite apart .from all considerations of style and/or womens figures, it is imperative that women generally wear such breast supporting garments as will provide the uplift and support necessary to prevent undue strain (such as might be occasioned by exercise, strains or even the continual weight of the breasts themselves) which might result in a permanent stretch and dis.- tortionof the delicate breast tissues; and that proper and adequate support and uplift be employed at all times as a safeguard and means for:

elastic element 4.

which would provide ready means whereby the desired necessary support and uplift could be adjust'ably arranged for' by the wearer, to meet the wearer's requirements.

It is the purpose of this inventim, therefore, to provide a novel type of brassiere of novel construction, having the usual supportingrand 1 uplifting effect of the conventional breast receiving pockets enhanced by means whereby the desired necessary support and uplift is made available to the wearer, said means being adapted to emphasize the separation between the breasts and which brassiere is easy to wear and use as well as economical to manufacture.

Turning nowto the drawing,.it will be observed that I have shown at I and 2 two breast receiving pockets. These pockets are joined to-. gether by an upper fabric element 3 and a lower 'Attached to the respective free ends of each of pockets I and 2 are the back bands 5 and 6, respectively. 1

Secured to the free end of back band i is an elastic element 8 having at its free end the usual hook strip 9. Secured to the free end of back band 5 is an elastic element I having secured at its free end aneye strip, III, the eyes on which are adapted to engagement with the hooks on hook strip 8, and thefabric of surheye strip being extended to overlap and cover the hooks and eyes when engaged and separate the same from the skin of the wearer of the garment.

Turning now to the arrangement of shoulder straps, it will be noted that secured to the upper edges of each of pockets I and 2, respectively, at substantially the highest points on the respective pocket edges are shoulder straps I3 and I4, respectively. Likewise it will be observed that secured adjacent the upper edge of each of elastic elements I and 8, respectively, are thefurther elastic strap elements II and II, respectively,

which are generally upwardly running towards the free ends of shoulder straps I3 and I4, respectively.

It will be understood that the free end of shoulder strap I3 is to be preferably adapted to detachable and adjustable engagement with the free end of elastic element II, while the free end of shoulder strap I4 is likewise preferably adapted to detachable and adjustable engagement with the free end of elastic element 12. Such detachable and adjustable engagement should make it possible for the wearer to selectively arrange for a desired efiective shoulder strap length providing the desired shoulder strap pull. Moreover, this detachable and adjustable engagement might be arranged for in different ways, such for example as the employment of a conventional button on the free end of elastic element II and a plurality of spaced apart button holes on the free end of shoulder strap I8, with similar construction on elastic element I2 and shoulder strap I 4, respectively, all like the adjustability of shoulder strap arrangement disclosed in United States Letters Patent No.

1,979,576 of November 6th, 1934 of which I was inventor, or else by any other suitable arrangement adapted to yield the desirable adjustable and detachable construction. Inthe co-pending application of myself and one, Charles M. Sachs, hereinabove mentioned, a novel construc ion 101' providing the desired detachable adjustability is fully disclosed which construction I preferably desire to employ in the present garment. I will, therefore, now here describe same, as shown, ar-

' ranged for use, in the garment of the drawing of this application.

' Such construction involves the use of an element 2! having a preferably rectangular eye 24 therein and having integral therewith a hook portion 26; one of said elements tobe employed at the free end of each of elastic elements II and Y II, respectively, for-engagement with the respective free ends of each of shoulder straps I8 and I4.

The free ends of each of shoulder straps I8 and II are formed with a plurality of successive parallel hook receiving channels IT by the fold-.

ing back of their ends as shown at I5 and stitch-.

ing of each along a plurality of parallel transverse lines of stitch I8. It will be understood that a hook portion 26 of an element 25 may then be passed through successive hook channels I'I until the desired effective shoulder strap length is provided. Although as illustratively shown in the drawing I preferably provide five of such hook channels at the end of each shoulder strap, a greater or lesser number of such channels of appropriate width, if desired, may be provided to yield a wider range of adjustability, by appropriate increase or decrease in the number of transverse lines of stitch I 6. As

will be understood the employment of elastic elements II and I2 in conjunction with the channels I1, is effective to provide for finer variation in effective shoulder strap length than might be possible by the employment of channels I'I alone.

It may at this point be noted, that, if desired, adjustment in effective shoulder strap length could be arranged for in the front of the garment by having the elements 25' secured to each breast receiving pocket at or adjacent its upper edge and having the elastic elements I I and I2 permanently secured to non-elastic shoulder straps which are free in the front but provided at their'free ends with hook channels I! for ad Justable cooperation with elements 25.

Turning now to the interior of the brassiere as shownfin Figs. 1 and 3, it will be noted that I have provided fabric sling-like elements I8 and I8 which,are secured over the whole of their respective widths in the lower portion of each of the breast receiving pockets. I and .2, respectively, at and partially along the line of joinder of each of said pockets with adjacent upper fabric element 3 and lower elastic element 4.

In this connection attention is directed toFig. 4 where there is illustratively shown in section the manner in which the fabric of pocket I, and

that of fabric element 3 is joined to the fabric of sling-like element I8; and likewise the man ner in which the fabric of pocket 2 and that of fabric element 3 is joined to the fabric'of slinglike element I8.

Tnese sling-like elements I8 and I9 are shown and preferably formed with curved'upper and "lower edges and tapering down in width towards v the sides of the garmentwhere they each termi-,

nate in a relatively straight edge lying adjacent the respective back bands. v

Secured to the free end of element I8 are two elastic strap elements 20 and 2|, secured one next to the other along the width of the free end of element I8. These strap elements are so arranged as to converge and have their free ends construction of pockets to produce desired full ness, that! do not, therefore, intend that the lie one atop the other upon the elastic element ii a short distance from its free end where there is secured an element 2|. tion the elastic strap elements 2| and'2l are secured to elastic element ,ii by stitching and the sling-like element It is then accordingly secured at one end adjacent the mid-length of the garment and at the other end by elements '20 and 2| to the elastic element I I. curement, however, they sling-like element It is otherwise entirely free; Turning to the free end Y of element I, it will be noted, that this slinglike element has similarly secured atits free end two elastic strap elements 22 and 22 which are secured one next to the other along the width of the free end .of element is. These strap elements, likewise, are so arranged as to converge and have their free ends lie one atop the other upon the elastic element i 2 a short distance from its free end where there is secured an element 25. Accordingly,when in proper position the elas ic strap elements 22 and 23 are secured to elastic element [2 by stitching and the sling-like element is is then accordingly secured at one end adjacent the mid-length of the garment and at the other end by elements 22 and 25 to the elastic element l2. Aside from this securement, however, the sling-like element I8 is otherwise also entirely free.

A further inspection of the drawing will disclose that the edges of the pockets and back bands as well as the curved edges of sling-like elements It and I9 as shown are finished with tape 21 which is stitched to such edges to provide a garment having smooth edges and a distinctly finished appearance.

From the foregoing construction it will be readily understood that the contact of each of sling-like elements It and IS with the individual breasts will be from beneath and that the pull that will be exerted on each of said elements wil'. be in opposite directions, to wit: each away from the mid-length of the garment, as well as upwards. It will be further understood that the amount and degree of this pull may be adjustably arranged for by appropriate selection of hook channels I! for cooperation with appropriate hook portions 26 of respective elements 25. It will be further noted that the effect of raising element 25 in order to engage hook portion 26 thereof with a higher hook channel I! will be to raise the ends of elements 20 and 2| or 22 and 23, as the case may be, and to increase the pull upon elements i8 or l9, respectively. It will still further be noted that the pull on the free ends of each of elements I8 and I9 also provides an emphasis on the separation between the breasts by drawing the same apart. In this connection it may be observed that the present construction will find peculiar value in cases where the wearers breasts are naturally set too close together.

Moreover, it will be further appreciated that the present construction while finding peculiar value in cases such as those men ioned, will also provide the desired uplift and support generally required even in cases where the breasts are already amply separated.

It should be noted that although I have shown each of pockets i and 2 as individually made of two pieces of irregularly shaped fabric Joined together by decorative open-work stitching or socalled fagoting, that since the breast receiving pockets may be otherwise satisfactorily constructed and the present invention employed with equal effect and advantage irrespective of the when in proper posi- Aside from this sepresent invention be taken tube in any way lim-..

' ited in its useand application to any particular pocket constructionor size. Moreover, it should be further understood that the present invention maybe employed with equal eflect and advantage not only in connection with brassieres of the length illustratively'shown in the drawing, but

. also in connection with brassieres of these-called longer-length"-type or those provided with de- I pending body or diaphragm bands. Indeed the I instant invention can be employed with b'eneficial results whenever appropriate uplift and support of the breasts are indicated as necessary and may even, either alone or in conjunction with other devices, find invaluable application and use as a surgical appliance.

Having thus described my novel construction, I will now briefly describe the manner in which the same is used:

It will be understood, of course, that a woman desiring the advantages of proper uplift and support as well as emphasis of line of separation between breasts will naturally select and purchase a proper sized brassiere which will be constructed to aflord her a desired range of adjustability.

As is usual, the brassiere is secured by the wearer about her body so that the left breast is received in pocket I and the right breast in pocket 2.

The sling-like elements l8 and I! are then preferably arranged so that the inner-most sides thereof, to wit: the sides thereof not facing the fabric of pockets i and 2, respectively, comeunder each individual breast contacting therewith so that each of the wearers breasts may ulti- .mately rest upon a sling-like element. The wearer having secured the brassire about her body in the fashion described, will then bring,

shoulder strap |3 over her left shoulder and shoulder strap I! over her right shoulder and by passing the hook portions 26 of the elements 25 through successive hook channels I! in the ends of the shoulder straps, will adjust the garment.

so as to provide herself with the desired necessary breast uplift and support as well as the desired emphasis on breast. separation, and. will, of course, leave the hook portions 26 of elements 25 in such hook channels I! as she may find most suitable to provide the desired degree of uplift, support and accentuation of breast separation. In this connection, it may again be observed that variation in effective shoulder strap length will be effective to provide variation in the pull exerted upon the respective sling-like elements and that adjustment of the magnitude of such pull may accordingly be arranged for by adjustment l3 and H are connected to elastic elements ii and I2, and have the plurality-of hook channelsv I 1 at the shoulder strap ends, and due to the further fact that elements 20 and 2| as well as elements 22 and 23 are preferably of elastic, or like resilient material, a relatively wide range of adjustability is provided ior each given garment I have'iound that theemployment of the in- I 'vention herein disclosed by me, when properly" adjusted, applied and used, does not compress or distort the wearer's breasts, but rather to the contrary providesthe necessary and proper upiiit and support essential to the creation and/or conservation of a natural pleasing bust configuration, as well' as emphasis oi" natural line or breast separation.

-It will be obvious'irom the foregoing that the "not, therefore, desire to be limited to the exact details herein set forth byway of illustration,

states Letters Patent is:

1. In a garmentoi the type described, a pair of breast receiving pockets, aipair of shoulder straps for holding said garment upon theshoulders of the 'wearer, means for adjustably varying the eflective actual length of said shoulder straps,

and means disposed in each of said pockets'and secured adjacent the mid-length of the garment for contacting, supporting upliiting and separating the wearer's breasts and means'joining the free ends of saidlast mentioned means with said shoulder straps ,below'and near the respective means for adjustably varying. shoulder strap length. I

a 2. Ina garment of the type described, a pair of breast receiving pockets, means securing said pockets'together, a back band secured to each of said pockets at its free end, "a shoulder strap secured to the upper edge of each 0! said pockets at one 0! its ends and to the rear of the garment at the other of its ends, means i'or'varying the eflective actual lengthgoi. each of. such shoulder straps, a sling-like element secured in each breast receiving pocket adjacent the mid-length oi the garment and means'joining said sling-like element to the corresponding shoulder strap in the rear of the garment below and near the means for adjustably varying shoulder strap length for varying the pull applied to said sling-like element in accordance with variation in efifective shoulder'strap length.

3. In a garment o! the type described, a pair of breast receiving pockets, means securing said pockets together, a back band secured to the free end of each of said pockets, a resilient element secured to the free 'end 01' each of said back bands, means for securing the free ends of said resilient elements together, a shoulder strap element secured to each pocket at its upper edge, a

" resilient strap element secured to each oi the pockets adjacent the mid-lengthot-the garment suchsling liker-eleinent being adapted to lie'in the lower portion of each breast receiving pocket and tapering in width towards' 'the' side ofthe garmentand terminating in a relatively straight edge lyingadjacent the line oI-joinder of each pocket with its corresponding-back band and means joining the sling-like element at its aforesaid relatively straight edge with l the resilient strap element 'near and below the point where same engages with the shoulder strap element.

4. The structure recited in claim 3 character ired in that the means joining the sling-like'element at its relatively straight edge with the resil-j ient strap element consists in'a plurality of resil- I ient elements converging at theresllient'strap element to whichthey are secured. e

s. In a garment oi the type described, a

l of breast receiving pockets, means securing. said 1 pockets. together, a back band secured to the free end of each 01' said pockets-means for support-' ing the garment upon the shoulders of the wearer, an internal relatively freesling-like element secured in the lower portion of each of said pockets adjacent the mid-lengthoi thegarment, such sling-like elements extending? towards thesid'es oi the garment where theyter minate, elastic elements secured to the free ends of said sling-like elements, the tree of said elastic elements being secured in the rear of the garment to the means for supporting the garment upon the shoulders of the wearer, and means for selectively varying and adjusting the actual length of the aforementioned means for support- 35 ing the garment upon the'shoulde'rs of thefwearer and subjecting the respective sling-likeelements to an upward pull in accordance with the desires element 'with its corresponding 'shoulderstrap whereby adjustment in eflective actual length of shoulder strap is adapted to vary the pull applied to the free end of each sling-like element.

7. In a garment oi the type described, a. pair of breast receiving pockets, means joining said v pockets together, a back-band secured to the free end of each of said breast receiving pockets,

means for securing the free ends of saidback,

hands together, a shoulder strap 0! adjustable effective actual length secured to each pocket at one end and to its corresponding back hand at r v the other end and a sling-like element secured in each pocket adjacent the mid-length of'the garment and means joining the free end of said slinglike element with the adjacent shoulder strap at a fixed point on said strap in the rearof the garment just below the point on said shoulder strap where adjustability in efiective 'actual shoulder strap length may be arranged for and elected 'so that decrease in effective actual shoulder strap length increases the pull upon the sling 1 Q like element while increase in the efifective actual shoulder strap length decreases the pull upon such element.

8. In a garment of the type'described, a pair oi breast receiving pockets, means securing said pockets together, a back band secured to the free ments, said sling-like elements being formed with a curved upper and lower edges tapering in width towards the sides of the garment where they respectively terminate in relatively straight edges,- and means joining the respective sling-like elements at such edges with the respective means for supporting the garment upon theshoulders of the wearer so that variation in eifective length of said means for supporting the garment upon the shoulders of the wearer results in variation in the pull applied to each sling-like element and thus variation in the degree of support, uplift and separation of the wearer's breasts eflected thereby. v

9. The structure recited in claim 8 characterized in that the means for varying the effective length of the means for supporting the garment upon the shoulders of the wearer includes an element carrying a hook and an element carrying a plurality of hook channels one of which channels may be selected to receive said hook.

10. In a garment of the type described a pair of joined breast receiving pockets, a sling-like element secured in each breast receiving pocket adjacent the midlength of the garment, a back band secured to each of said pockets at the free end of each thereof, a resilient strap element secured to each of said back bands, a hook carried by each resilient strap element at its free end, a

shoulder strap secured to each of said pockets atone end and provided at its other end with a plurality of channels, one of which may be selected to receive the said hook, and means joining the free end of each of the aforesaid sling-like elements to a resilient strap element.

11. In a brassiere a pair 01' joined breast receiving pockets, a sling-like element secured in each breast receiving pocket adjacent theunidlength of'the garment, a back band secured to each of said pockets at the free end of eachthereof, a strap element secured to each of said back bands, a second strap element secured to each of said pockets at one,end, means for adjustably engaging together the free ends of said strap elements, and means joining the free end of each of the aforesaid sling-like elements to a strap element which is secured to a back band, adjacent the free end of such strap element.

12. The structure recited in claim 11 characterized in that the means for adjustably en- 1 gaging together the free ends of said strap elements consists in a hook carried by the free end of one element and a plurality of hook channels carried by the free end of the other such element.

13. In a garment of the type described, a pair of joined breast receiving pockets, a back band secured to the free end of each of said pockets, a fabric sling-like element secured in each breast receiving pocket, a fabric shoulder strap section secured to each pocket in the front, an elastic shoulder strap section secured to each back band in the rear, means for engaging the free end of said elastic shoulder-strap section at a selected one of a number of possible separated points adjacent the free end of the corresponding fabric shoulder strap section and elastic means joining the free end of each sling-like element to the corresponding elastic shoulder strap section adjacent the'free end thereof.

,1 14. The structure recited in claim 13 characterized in that each sling-like element is secured along but a single edge thereof in each breast receiving'pocket in the lower portion thereof and adjacent the midlength of the garment and is otherwise free and moveable in the pocket.

15. In a garment of 'the type described, a pair of breast receiving pockets, means securing said pockets together, a sling-like element secured in each of said pockets along the line where each of said pockets joins the means securing said pockets together, a back band secured at the free end of each of said pockets, a resilient element secured to the free end of each .of said back bands, means for securing the free ends of said resilient elements together, a shoulder strap element secured to each pocket at its upper edge, a resilient strap element secured to each of the aforesaid resilient elements which are attached to the back bands, means joining the free end of each of the aforesaid sling-like elements with a resilient strap element, and means for engaging the free end of said resilient strap element with a shoulder strap element at a selected point adjacent the end of the shoulder strap element.

16. In a garment oi the type described, a pair 01' joined breast receiving pockets, means disposed in each of said pockets and secured adjacent the midlength of the garment and arranged to contact and uplift the wearer's breasts from beneath, a pair of shoulder straps of adjustable length for supporting the garment upon the wearer's shoulders, and means for joining the means herein first mentioned with said shoulder straps, so that adjustment in the length of said straps adjustably varies the pressure with which the said means herein first mentioned act upon the wearer's breasts.

WILLIAM ROSEN'I'HAL. 

